Residence Halls

The residence halls are a place for students to live in diverse community while furthering their academic learning. Soka has a four-year live-on requirement for students and offers eight residence halls where students are housed according to their classification (first year halls, second year halls, etc.). Soka provides housing only for currently enrolled students; family housing is not available on-campus. Each semester, students have the opportunity to petition to live off-campus.

All halls have been named by the student body.

Sunrise Hall 300
Houses 96 Residents

Named for its distinct vantage point in capturing each beautiful sunrise

Abeona Hall 305
Houses 39 residents

Named after the Guardian and Protector of children leaving home

Aurora Hall 310
Houses 44 residents

Named after the Roman goddess of dawn and for its stunning city views

Horizon Hall 315
Houses 60 residents

Named for the junction of earth and sky as it sits at the edge of the residential community and affords an unobstructed view of the Top of the World Laguna

Sunset Hall 380
Houses 96 residents

Named for the commanding view of spectacular sunsets

Somnus Hall 385
Houses 39 residents

Named after the God of sleep and dreams

Umoja Hall 370
Houses 44 residents

(ooh-MOE-jah) An African word meaning UNITY, aptly named to characterize the spirit of the residential community

Pantry – while all students residing on campus have a full meal plan, each hall features a pantry equipped with a refrigerator, microwave, first aid kit, and water purifier. Sunrise and Sunset Halls feature induction stoves and cookware.

Laundry Room – all halls have multiple washer and dryers, including ecologically-friendly, high efficiency machines. Laundry is included in the cost of room and board, so there is no need to save up quarters or use debit cards. Laundry is essentially “free.”

Living Rooms – the upper floors of the halls feature common space equipped with wifi and comfortable chairs and couches. Living Rooms are a gathering space, frequently used for study groups, programs, or simply relaxing.

Multifaith Rooms – located in Sunrise and Sunset Halls, the Multifaith Rooms were founded by Soka students as a way to support diversity in the halls. Multifaith Rooms offer a place for students to practice their faith individually or study religion in small groups.

The residence hall community has trained, full time live-in professional staff members responsible for coordinating and overseeing hall activities including programming, advising on academic and personal concerns, supervising and coordinating student staff, and overseeing daily operations. All staff members are readily available to residents and a staff member is on call at all times.

Housing Options

Soka offers a variety of room styles, themed communities, and living options for students.

First-Year Students

Room Styles:

All first-year students live in a double occupancy room with a roommate. Roommates may be selected upon request or are matched based on lifestyle compatibility. Double rooms include a shared bedroom and private bathroom. Each resident is provided the following furniture: twin sized bed, extra-long twin mattress, desk, hutch/bookshelf, chair, wardrobe closet, and Cisco IP phone. Each double room also includes a trashcan, recycle bin, plunger, and emergency flashlight.

Housing Options

Typically, all halls are co-ed and roommates are matched according to gender (men room with men; women room with women). However, first year students may also apply for the following housing options:

Scholars’ Peak: a themed community where the focus is on assisting first year students who are interested in developing and practicing leadership skills and styles, as well as exploring service opportunities both on campus and in the surrounding community. Scholar's Peak is a unique, vibrant community which allows residents the opportunity to complement their education with opportunities to develop interests, enhance personal relationships, and create connections with faculty and staff.

Female-only Wing: one floor/wing where all residents are female.

Gender Neutral Housing: a rooming option that places no restriction on the gender of roommates. It supports the diversity of identities at Soka University of America and is intended to meet the needs of students and create a more inclusive environment. Gender Neutral Housing provides all individuals, including those who identify as gender non-conforming and/or transgendered, with a choice in their living arrangements on campus.

The purpose of Gender Neutral Housing is not to provide a University-sanctioned housing option for students in a romantic relationship, but rather to ensure a safe and inclusive living environment for the whole array of gender/sexual identities.

Upper-class Students (second, third, and fourth year)

Room Styles

Upper-class students have the option to live in suites with a private bathroom (second, third, and fourth year) or single rooms with a private bathroom (fourth year only).

Suites house two students, each in a private bedroom with a shared entry space and bathroom. Residents may choose their suitemate and suite location during the Room Selection process. Each resident is provided the following furniture: twin sized bed, extra-long twin mattress, desk, hutch/bookshelf, chair, wardrobe closet, and Cisco IP phone. Each suite also includes a trashcan, recycle bin, plunger, and emergency flashlight.

A limited number of single rooms are available only to fourth-year students. These rooms consist of a private bedroom for one student with a private bathroom. Each room is provided the following furniture: twin sized bed, extra-long twin mattress, desk , hutch/bookshelf, chair, wardrobe closet, and Cisco IP phone, trashcan, recycle bin, plunger, and emergency flashlight.

Housing Options

All halls are co-ed, and students select their suites/rooms for the subsequent year during the Room Selection process in the spring semester. The following housing options are available to upper-class students:

Eco-Wing: founded by students in 2012, the Eco-Wing is open to a limited number of third-year students who share a passion for environmental conservation and education. Suite bathrooms in this community are equipped with extra low-flow faucets, toilets, and showers. As a community, the Eco-Wing sets their own environmental friendly living standards and promotes environmental education on campus. The group attends various off-campus lectures and leads conservation programs on campus.

Gender Neutral Housing: a rooming option that places no restriction on the gender of suitemates. It supports the diversity of identities at Soka University of America and is intended to meet the needs of students and create a more inclusive environment. Gender Neutral Housing provides all individuals, including those who identify as gender non-conforming and/or transgendered, with a choice in their living arrangements on campus.

The purpose of Gender Neutral Housing is not to provide a University-sanctioned housing option for students in a romantic relationship, but rather to ensure a safe and inclusive living environment for the whole array of gender/sexual identities.